Some Sedative Plants in Ancient Egypt: Egyptian Blue Lotus, Hemp, Mandrake & Opium Poppy

Shehatta Attia, Venice Ibrahim (2022) Some Sedative Plants in Ancient Egypt: Egyptian Blue Lotus, Hemp, Mandrake & Opium Poppy. In: Aegyptus et Pannonia VIII. : Acta Symposii anno 2021. Magyar-Egyiptomi Baráti Társaság, Ókori Egyiptomi Bizottság, Budapest, pp. 259-297. ISBN 9786156571021

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Abstract

Egyptologists confirms the use of various narcotics ranging from practical daily use (mood elevation) to religious application (incense offered to the gods), as well as widespread medical use in the treatment of various ailments. Ancient Egyptian physicians were undoubtedly aware of the fact that Egyptian blue lotus, hemp, mandrake, poppy, datura, Egyptian henbane2 & belladonna were painkillers. There is no unequivocal evidence that they knew the chemical effects of the narcotics in each plant and the differences between their constituents, but they certainly knew how and when to use them, and experience taught them the almost perfect doses needed as medicine away from their harmful poisonous effect.

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